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“I know, I know,” Otto said. “I wish I’d kept my mouth shut. Keep her barefoot and in the kitchen.”

“Don’t forget pregnant,” Amos said. “But you’re working on that.”

Margaret felt her face flush red. “Amos! Knock it off!”

“Amos, my diminutive white friend,” Otto said, “you’re just mad that a fine-looking black man is getting all the action.”

“Fine-looking until you put on that suit and get all sweaty,” Amos said. “Then you look like a half-chewed Tootsie Roll.”

Margaret sighed. The juvenile name-calling never ceased. She just didn’t get men.

Otto smiled and nodded, which meant he had a killer comeback, but his cell phone chirped before he could speak. There was only one person who would be calling. Clarence answered.

“Otto here.” He listened. His smile faded into an expression that was all business. He pinched the cell phone between his shoulder and ear, then looked at the map.

“We’ll be there in three minutes.” He hung up.

“What’s the matter?” Margaret asked.

“Baum and Milner are down,” Otto said. “A kid named Tad found them, said Dawsey was going to his house.”

Otto leaned forward to give Gitsh directions.

Margaret cursed under her breath. If Perry got to the hosts first . . .

LESS LETHAL

Staccato gunfire echoed through the woods as Third Platoon opened the engagement, making the dark western tree line sparkle with bright muzzle flashes. First Platoon waited exactly three minutes, then pushed due north, straight toward the construct. Second Platoon swept east and curved north, ready to flank the hatchlings should they flee directly away from Third Platoon’s fire.

Fourth Platoon held their position. If the hatchlings fled northwest, they’d run directly into the Fourth. If they ran due north, the Fourth would strafe their flank the whole way.

Predator drones circled low to the northeast, ready to launch h.e.l.lfire missiles that would either herd the hatchlings back into the action or kill them outright.

There was nowhere for the creatures to run.

Ogden watched through night-vision goggles, ready to adapt his strategy if something unexpected popped up.

But nothing did.